Dead Teen's Classmates Discover His Brain in Jar

A Staten Island couple is suing New York City after the shocking discovery that their dead son's brain was on display in a jar at a city morgue.

Jesse Shipley was 17 when he died in a car crash in 2005.

Andre and Korisha Shipley said they had no idea his brain was removed during an autopsy until some of the teen's classmates at Port Richmond High School visited a morgue on a field trip.

While on the tour, the kids, who were members of a forensic science club, came across a jar with a brain floating inside and their dead friend's name on the label.

The family's lawyer, Marvin Ben-Aron, told the New York Post that the sight left the kids "shaking and upset."

Student Samantha Feldman, now 22, told the New York Daily News that the group of kids included Jesse Shipley's girlfriend and her best friend.

"The best friend went outside and was flipping out," Feldman told the paper. "She started crying and called her mom and said, 'Mom, Jesse's brain is here! I can't be here."'

After the incident, the city returned the brain and the family disinterred their son from a cemetery and then reburied him with the missing organ.

A doctor at the Richmond County Mortuary, Stephen de Roux, said in a deposition that the brain had been kept along with others for additional tests related to the autopsy - a routine procedure to avoid having a specialist make repeated treks out to Staten Island for non-urgent tests.

"I wait months until I have six brains, and then it's kind of worth ... the trip to Staten Island to examine six brains," he said. "It doesn't make sense for him to come and do one."

An appeals court declined to dismiss the case this week, saying it was a "question of fact" whether the medical examiner's office had the authority to hold on to the brain after the autopsy.

A city attorney says officials are "evaluating our legal options" for resolving the case.

[newsterI]

"Andre and Korisha Shipley said they had no idea his brain was removed during an autopsy "

No idea eh? what did they THINK an autopsy does?


"The family's lawyer, Marvin Ben-Aron, told the New York Post that the sight left the kids "shaking and upset."

They were part of a forensics science class and were left shaking and upset? well, thats not the class for them then.


"the family disinterred their son from a cemetery and then reburied him with the missing organ."

Oh good grief, you gotta be joking, what idiots!

[fedup12]

At least the name wasnt Abby Normal.

[RangerDan107]

Was it a Mayonaise or Pickle jar?

[FoolKiller]

"Jesse Shipley was 17 when he died in a car crash in 2005". In 2005!?! Someone needs to stop watching CSI reruns and do their job!!!

[puzzler125]

It's a horrible coincidence but brings to light the fact that specimens may be kept for years in case of trials, and many other reasons. What do you think students learn with? What do you think new tests and procedures are developed with?

[johndevinejr]

I thought that scientists had created mice with fully functional human brains for this. According to well known scientist Christine O'Donnell of Delaware that is.

[knowerseeker]

There needs to be *consent*, however.

[bsharp10]

Years ago a prestigious NYC Univ.,where I was employed. I posted a story re a medical student who playfully informed me how he and a fellow student took the skeleton of a [dear departed soul donated for research purposes] from the lab., and scare the toll collecters on weekends. How gross is that? Dare I say, I withdrew my offer to donate.

[wlhoppers]

I can't believe so many people are treating this so lightly. Put yourself in the family's place. When you bury a loved one, unless they're a designated organ donor, you expect them to be physically intact when they're buried. To find out your son's brain is being displayed in a specimen jar and then offered a lame, pathetic excuse as to why it's there...my fury would know no bounds.
I do know I'd have Dr. de Roux by the shorthairs and by the time I got done with him I'd have two key anatomical parts on display in a pickle jar.

[yeah_sure_whatever]

Umm. Who cares the kid is dead and buried. Putting his brain back in the body isn't going to make a bit of difference, suing the morgue isn't going to make a bit of difference. Sheeh. People need to get over it. People die. What happens to their bodies afterward has no effect on the fact that they are still DEAD.

[x0xBrookersx0x]

ouch, that's true but have a little sympathy for the family. what if you went in there and your moms brain was on display or something? wouldn't that make you just a tad angry?

My little sister passed away when she was 9, and if I EVER found anything like that i would be furious, absolutely furious.

[carilovesscott]

so its okay for the morgue to do whatever they want with your parts, cuz youre dead???!!! i don't think the law sees it that way!!

[byrdh5n1]

The kid wanted to be a Marine. Now he's a.... jar head.....

[RedWings_ninety_one]

That was kind of...cheezy. I don't know how else to put it.

[carilovesscott]

so very tacky, and not so much funny!!

[bsharp10]

Here we go again! To Whom It May Concern: I know times are hard but please don't make this a criminal case. Do your child a great favor and request that the morgue relinquish the JAR to it's rightful owners.

[knowerseeker]

And then make sure that the proper person's job is taken for such an atrocity.